Nursery charging extra for early pick up?

[Northtosouth]

I’ve recently put my DS’s name down at a local nursery to start when he is 1 for 2 days a week. The nursery day is 8.00am - 600pm which I understand is needed for parents working however I’m able to either drop off later or pick my child up earlier than this but the nursery want to charge me extra for this.
Am I missing something here? What is the added cost involved? Is this normal practice at a nursery?

Just insane. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume there’s been a misunderstanding somewhere!

Nope that's crazy. Maybe they misunderstood your request

We would charge for the full session if someone picks up half way through as the staffing is there to cover the child still but we wouldn't charge extra on top of the session rate to have a child picked up early. Seems very odd as a child going early usually means it improves ratios for the rest or allows someone to do other tasks.

If you collect early a staff member has to leave the group of children they are with and the activity and they are doing to greet you and do handover etc. So they’d need more staff so someone is available to do that.
Maybe that’s why?
(that’s a complete guess btw)

That seems ridiculous and I'd be questioning why???

Do they do a lot of outings? So the children would not usually be there at that time of day and so they need an extra member of staff to stay back with him?

Honestly it's bonkers. I'd be worried they're in financial difficulties and trying to squeeze every last penny, which would worry me both about unseen bills and that they're about to go under.

What is the earliest time to collect but not pay extra? Maybe they just want to avoid disruption if they are playing outside or doing nappy changes or something? It doesn't seem that early though, I've come across nurseries that expected the child in between 9 and 3 minimum.

I would agree with @Yellowlegobrick it's a red flag. There's no cost to them so you have to see what other reasons could there be. Childcare is expensive, so expensive that parents become stay home parents, work solely to pay for the childcare and I dare say, some pay more out in childcare than they earn just to safeguard their career progression. Given this, what better way to discourage than to financially penalise. It reminds me of the advice given to parents, hesitate before picking a nursery or kindergarten where you cannot enter the classroom. Not cut and dried, it has to be seen in context. However in this case I cannot see a reason. Maybe you could ask?

So every child has to stay until 6 regardless of what time the parent finishes work or it's more expensive?

Thats bonkers

Agree with everyone that it sounds crazy and that either they have got the wrong end of the stick and think you want to drop off earlier in the morning or pick up later in the evening, or they really don’t want you coming there at your convenience, which raises all sorts of red flags.

I would also want to know, if they charge extra for a planned early pick up, but you are then late for that pick up so it is more normal time, would they then charge you an extra late fee on top of your early pick up fee or would the price revert back to the normal price or would you still have to pay the early pick up fee as they were expecting you early even if you didn’t make it…. And how tight would they be on timings - would you get an extra penalty a bit like you can if you are late for pick ups at normal nurseries…

They want you to go to the pub before picking up. Adds to the fun.

Do Ryanair run nurseries now?

Normal to pay for full session eg 8-6. Never heard of paying more for early pick up I’d ask them to clarify.
I can’t see any logic for 8-6 being £80 and 9-4 £100 a day for example.

That is not normal practice where I live.

Is it a ratios thing? If they have the right number of staff for their ratios and then have to have someone answer the door and do handover, are they then outside their ratios?

How much extra? Are you sure they haven’t got their wires crossed? Why would they charge you if you picked up at 5 instead of 6 when you’re paying for a full day anyway

Oh man, alcohol would not help my patience when picking up my tired, feral children.

Totally normal to have to pay a full day but I've never heard of a nursery which charges more for you to pick your child up early. That's just so odd!

Name the nursery please ... I assume you won't be using it now so nothing to lose!

No that’s not normal. That’s ridiculous

Most nurseries like early pick ups as staff can tidy and do paperwork etc. They used to put rooms together at dc’s which she liked as change of scenery and toys eg merge toddlers and preschool after 5 as only a handful of children left.

Madness . I was a childminder - loved it when children were picked up early . Usually parents asked/ informed incase we were on school run or eating tea etc but always worked around parents needs.

Ask their reasoning?

How does it work if everyone turns up on strike of 6 to get cheaper rate? Usually there’s a steady stream picking up from 4.30 onwards.

Not right at all. I've dealt with more than a few nurseries, you don't get money taken off if you pick up early but you certainly don't get money put on!

I understand what a PP said about ratios but that would put me even more off...I mean, what happens if someone needs the toilet? Would take the same amount of time to take a child to the door.

Wouldn't trust a nursery that said this was the reason because there is always a chance a staff member has to leave the room, so if they don't have enough to cover this then they are not keeping your child safe.

If someone has to bring your child out at a different time, rest of children are then under safe ratios so they need to have an extra member of staff.